In an interview with Lusa, Rafael Vidal focused on the joint construction and "brotherhood" between the two countries, both former Portuguese colonies, and the "very intense" diplomatic partnership since Angola's independence in 1975, which Brazil was the first country to recognize.

Brazil has a strategic partnership with Angola -- the second in Africa, in addition to South Africa -- and the Portuguese-speaking country was the one that received the most funds from the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) in a total of 3.5 billion dollars (3.22 billion euros, at the current exchange rate), already reimbursed, "to help in the reconstruction of Angola", after the end of the civil war in 2002.

"The large engineering and construction companies came, settled and many remain here, invested, these works are visible", said the diplomat, emphasizing the importance of presidential diplomacy resumed in Lula da Silva's third term, who chose Angola for his first visit.

"[President Lula] has always had this important performance since his first term, especially in our most important partnerships in the South-South axis", noted Rafael Vidal, adding that "all international partnerships are welcome".

"We are not in Angola to displace or alienate other partners, we are not entering this race (...). We believe in the principle of cooperation according to the State that receives the cooperation and in the principle of international responsibility, we do not develop if our neighbors do not develop", declared the ambassador to Lusa, reinforcing: "Brazil is not here because other countries are, it would be here even if none of them were".

Rafael Vidal said that Brazil has already established more than 75 cooperation projects and has already invested more than 20 billion dollars (18.4 billion euros) in Angola in two decades.

"We have the largest Brazilian community in Africa, a dynamic business community, we are 27,000 Brazilians", he stressed.

The level of trade has also returned to pre-pandemic levels, reaching around 1.5 billion dollars (1.38 billion euros), with a balanced trade balance between 2022 and 2023.

"Angola today exports much more oil, for example", stressed the Brazilian ambassador, highlighting the "very special moment" in the relationship between the two countries thanks to the resumption of Lula da Silva's presidential diplomacy.

As fruits of this diplomacy, he pointed out achievements made this week, such as the first congress of the human milk bank, "based on Angolan experience" and the first participation of Brazilian startups in the Angola Startup Summit.

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